Before they even stepped into the ring, Pascal vs. Bute was hyped as the Super Bowl of Canadian boxing.

Unfortunately, as football fans are well aware, not every Super Bowl is a classic.

Jean Pascal defeated Lucian Bute by unanimous decision Saturday night at Montreal`s Bell Centre, putting to rest the question of which of the two adopted Montrealers is the best fighter.

Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KO) may have been the favourite, but each time Bute`s (31-2-0, 24 KO) face was shown on the big screen prior to the fight, the crowd would erupt with a roar normally only heard during a Georges St. Pierre UFC fight, or if the Canadiens should ever win another Cup.

From very early on in, it was obvious Pascal was the better fighter. QMI Agency scored nine of the first 10 rounds for the Haiti-born Pascal, leaving Bute bloodied, beaten, and looking exhausted. Pascal, on the other hand, looked like he was ready to head out for a night on the town.

"He was brilliant," said promoter Yvon Michel of Pascal, "and in control through the 11th (round)."

The 11th and 12th rounds were far and away the most exciting of the fight. For the first time, Bute had Pascal up against the ropes and playing defecse. After Pascal spent the first 10 rounds quieting the crowd, Bute took those last six minutes and threw everything he could at Pascal.

"In the 12th round I had nothing to lose," said Bute. "I knew I was behind,"

Bute did more damage to Pascal in the 12th than he did in the rest of the fight. In the post-fight press conference, Pascal said that he eased up at the end, knowing the result was in the books.

"Bute has a decent punch, but I`m a soldier," Pascal said. "I`m a warrior. I love pain. He was punching because I let him punch."

After the fight, Pascal was on cloud nine.

"This is like a dream come true," he said, smiling from ear to ear. "I didn`t re-invent the wheel (for this fight). In order to be successful you have to believe in yourself."

Pascal said that he "followed the gameplan from A-Z," and gave a lot of credit to Roy Jones Jr., a champion boxer who was in Pascal`s corner and helped him prepare for the fight.

"He`s like a sponge," said Jones Jr. "I showed him something (the afternoon of the fight) and he used it twice. Everybody (on team Pascal) did their jobs to the best of their abilities."

The three judges ruled the fight for Pascal, 116-112. 118-110, and 117-111, handing him the WBC Diamond and NABF belts.

"I knew in my heart," said Pascal, "That I was the best man (in the ring)."